Implementing a program like this is actually easier than you might think. The cost is minimal while the rewards are immeasurable.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) November 19, 2014

Local Cleveland business, Embrace Pet Insurance, has taken community involvement to the next level with their latest outreach effort. Step into one of their conference rooms and you’ll find that homeless cats and kittens are now being fostered at Embrace’s headquarters on Richmond Rd.

“We are so incredibly thankful to have the office space available to do this,” said Kate Zirkle, Marketing Services Manager and Foster Program Lead for Embrace. “This is an amazing way to uphold our Core Values while also enriching the lives of staff and cats alike.”

Embrace’s Cleveland headquarters consists of 50+ animal-loving employees, many of which have said, “I wish I could foster.” This new program makes that possible without fully taking on the responsibility alone.

Embrace encourages more businesses to consider opening their doors to homeless pets. According to Kate Zirkle, “Implementing a program like this is actually easier than you might think. The cost is minimal while the rewards are immeasurable.”

Embrace Pet Insurance is a member of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) and a proud winner of Cleveland.com’s Northeast Ohio Top Workplaces for 2014.

Embrace’s Co-Founder and CEO, Laura Bennett, believes that “this is another great example of an employee-driven program that helps make Embrace a fantastic place to work.” And with a cat snoozing in your lap while you work, it’s hard to argue with that statement.

About Embrace Pet Insurance

Embrace Pet Insurance is an Ohio-based pet health insurance provider, offering comprehensive, personalized insurance products for dogs and cats across the US. Embrace is consistently ranked as one of the highest-rated US pet insurance companies and is a proud member of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. Embrace is the only company to offer a diminishing deductible feature, the Healthy Pet DeductibleTM, and continues to innovate and improve the pet insurance experience for pet parents across the country.

About NAPHIA

Founded in 2007, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) is comprised of experienced and reputable pet health insurance companies and pet health professionals whom are committed to advancing and growing the industry. NAPHIA fosters high standards for the industry on service, coverage and transparency; is a central resource for the gathering, analysis and reporting of information on pet health insurance; and supports responsible pet ownership through the promotion of a broad spectrum of pet health insurance coverage options. NAPHIA’s Membership collectively represents 95% of the pet insurance market, and provides coverage to more than 1 million pets across North America.

PHOENIX, AZ–(Marketwired – Nov 3, 2014) – Are you ready to fall head over paws for an adopted pet? PetSmart Charities November National Adoption Weekend may be the perfect time to do so, happening Nov. 14-16 at all 1,300 PetSmart® stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

More than 2,000 animal welfare organizations will be on-site at every PetSmart store during the weekend-long event to help you find the perfect dog, cat, puppy or kitten.

How to AdoptVisit the PetSmart Charities’ adoption center inside any PetSmart store in the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14 and Saturday, Nov. 15; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16. To find the PetSmart store nearest you, visit http://pets.petsmart.com/adoptions/ or call 1-877-473-8762. National Adoption Weekends are sponsored by PetSmart, Purina® Pro Plan® and Tidy Cats®.

Celebrating Adopted Pet Love StoriesPetSmart Charities has teamed up with Nicholas Sparks, a pet parent, pet adoption advocate and best-selling author of The Notebook, The Best of Me and The Longest Ride to celebrate both the newly formed bonds from National Adoption Weekend and also pet parents everywhere who have chosen to adopt.

Pet parents are invited to submit their pet’s adoption story and tell Sparks about the impact their adopted pet has made on their life. Sparks will select the most heartwarming pet adoption story and the lucky winner’s adopted pet will be named in one of his upcoming novels.

“Teaming up with Nicholas Sparks to promote pet adoption and celebrate the love our adopted pets give us is a natural fit,” said Jan Wilkins, executive director, PetSmart Charities. “Nicholas is a huge pet adoption advocate and even includes pets in many of his novels.” The winning story will also be featured on Sparks’s website, along with an introduction by the author.

How to EnterTell us why you fell in love with your adopted pet and how they’ve made your life complete by submitting your pet’s adoption story and photo to the “Fall into a Nicholas Sparks Love Story Contest” by visiting this link. Key contest dates:

November 3 – December 14, 2014: Online submission period

January 12, 2015: Winner announced

ABOUT PETSMART CHARITIES®PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. More than 400,000 dogs and cats find homes each year through our adoption program in all PetSmart® stores and our sponsored adoption events. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding spay/neuter services that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, separate from PetSmart, Inc.

“Wow, a Fitbit for dogs,” I thought when I first noticed that one of my otherwise-sane friends had attached a shiny round silver tracker to her dog’s collar. What a world, Fitbit for dogs. My attitude could be summed up as: ¯_(ツ)_/¯.

But that was before I discovered the pet body-shaming industry, after which Fitbit for dogs quickly seemed quaint.

Of course people should encourage their animals to exercise–according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, an estimated 54% of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese. But there’s a big difference between a leash and true bodyshaming technology. What I’m talking about are doggie treadmills, doggie running services, doggie gyms, doggie personal trainers, doggie Pilates, doggie protein powder, and doggie weights–things designed to make doggie muscles.

The first of these discoveries, for me, was the doggie treadmill, which features side panels for keeping a dog focused on his run and usually costs between $500 and $3,000. Elaborate, sure, but it has a certain logic to it. Dogs like to run. Maybe it’s too cold to take them outside sometimes. Power to those entrepreneurs.

The discovery of doggie gyms, like the 6,000-square-foot facility that just opened in Alexandria, Virginia, however, was a bit harder to swallow. It costs $60 for a one-month membership at that gym, and that’s more than I would pay for a human gym. But after considering agility training–the sport of showing off your dog walking through tunnels, tipping over seesaws, and weaving around poles–it made a little more sense.

Then, just when I began to wrap my head around the idea, I found the canine personal trainers.

Dog walkers are so 1995, it seems. In New York City, there are dog runners, endurance athletes who will take your pet for a jog, who charge $32 per 30 minutes. Dog fitness trainers like those at The Nerdy Dog Fitness in New Hampshire, meanwhile, offer personal training sessions for dogs that include jogging, swimming, and low-intensity exercise using Frisbees, balls, and other toys.

Nerdy Dog also offers team fitness classes for dogs and humans, kind of like baby-and-me swim classes, for $12 each. Don’t live in New Hampshire? You can download the program online for $47 (or read a pamphlet entitled “Lose the Pooch With Your Pooch”). Or, if you live in North Hollywood, the Thank Dog Bootcamp has a similar doggie-and-me fitness program for $25 per class. The recreation department in Arlington, MA has also offered a $293 six-week option.

Working out with your pet I could get behind. But when taken to its absolute furthest incarnation, this concept becomes Paws-ilates, which is exactly what it sounds like: Pilates that incorporates your pet. You can buy the 60-minute DVD for $24.99.

This was a rabbit hole of pet fitness I hadn’t anticipated, and it was far from over.

Still not satisfied with your pet’s body? There’s a corner of the pet supplement industry, which is expected to reach $1.6 billion in 2017, that’s for you. It’s called Gorilla Max, and it’s advertised as a “Dog Protein Powder for Muscle.” It is a more intense version of its sister product, Bully Max, and a 30-day supply costs $44.99.

The image on the Gorilla Max label suggests the product is designed to turn your dog into the most terrifying version of itself. More likely, people buy it because they are dealing with rescued dogs that need to gain weight or dogs that compete in pulling, dog jumps, or other competitions. Some of these, like the pulling competitions, are controversial (sport enthusiasts say it satisfies a dog’s natural instinct, animal activists say it’s cruel).

Gorilla Max for Pit Bulls

So wait, if there is protein powder for dogs, that means there is weightlifting for dogs, too, right?

You betchya. A company in Wisconsin that would not return repeated phone calls throughout this week makes weighted collars ($53.99), vests ($76.99), and kettle balls ($49.95) for dogs. The makers of another weighted vest, the K9FITvest ($69.99), say they’ve solved potential problems with doggie resistance training. “If you would like us to speak to your vet please let us know,” its website says. “Many conceptions about weighted vests are based on previous design limitations.”

Is this even safe for pets? The American Veterinary Medical Association was unwilling to give a clear-cut answer to whether body building for dogs is a good idea. Instead a spokesperson sends me a statement. “Physical fitness is an important component of your dog’s overall health and happiness, but you need to make sure you don’t do more harm than good,” it says. “Dietary supplements aren’t under the same scrutiny as veterinary drugs, so you should talk with your veterinarian about what your dog consumes and if that’s truly necessary.”

“Finally, any physical activity your dogs engage in should be fun and rewarding for them, and not a chore.”

Gail Miller Bisher, who founded a fitness training for dogs business in 2009 and is writing a book about pet fitness, says dogs will be healthiest if they exercise regularly in a breed-appropriate way, see the vet, and eat a proper diet. She sees most of the supplements, resistance training, and other pet fitness equipment on the market as unnecessary for most dogs. “They are not people,” she says. “And they do not need to be treated as such. They are not body builders, and they are not able to make their own decisions.”

Of course, most pet fitness products are sold not only under the premise that they are safe, but also that your dog will be missing out on something crucial without them.

The chief marketing officer at the company that makes Gorilla Max, Jamie Seymour, positions the product as a way to give a dog, especially a working dog, what it can’t get from a normal diet. “It’s keeping your dog overall healthy,” he says. “A lot of dogs shed too much, they want their dogs to shed less. They want a better skin and coat. They want their dogs to have a healthier immune system [he claims the product fights infection]. When dogs work out, and when they’re training for show and for sport, this is a product that helps accelerate recovery time,” he says. “There are nutrients you wouldn’t get just from dog food.”

Not hiring a dog runner is also depriving your dog of something essential. “A walk around the block or a 15-minute romp around several times a day is minimal exercise and is NOT enough to meet the average dog’s needs,” explain the dog runners. “Active breeds such as dogs from the sporting, herding, hound and terrier groups, northern breeds and any mixture of these and virtually all adolescents require much more exercise!”

“A well-rounded fitness program includes resistance training to improve joint health, muscle, tendon and ligament strength; as well as cardio, balance and flexibility exercises,” the weighted vest makers advise. “It is recommended that you do strength training exercises with your dog 2-3 times a week for companion pets and 3-5 for performance dogs.”

The treadmill people are more blunt: “WHAT IS YOUR DOG’S HEALTH WORTH TO YOU?” one site asks in capitalized, bold type.

When a dog is drinking a protein shake at a dog gym, before getting on a dog treadmill, it’s maybe time to ask why we’re buying it all of these (expensive) products and services.

Actually body-shaming a pet is not possible, at least not in a way that leads to a credit card transaction, so the pet body-shaming industry must shame us instead. Animals, after all, tend to resemble their owners. We’ve been striving toward unrealistic ideals for our own bodies for decades. Now, at last, there’s a whole genre of products that encourages us to do the same for our pets.

PHOENIX, Sept. 28, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In conjunction with World Rabies Day, North Central Animal Hospital announced that the practice is offering rabies vaccinations for $5. The discount is designed to encourage pet owners to make sure pets are up to date on this critical vaccination. Rabies is a virus that is passed between animals when infected saliva comes in contact with open wounds, or an infected animals bites a pet or a human. The virus has been seen all over the world and is common in the wild. Vaccinations are essential to preventing the disease from affecting family pets.

World Rabies Day is September 28, 2014 and to celebrate, North Central Animal Hospital is offering rabies vaccinations for only $5. The discounted vaccination rate is good through the end of 2014.

“Every year, beloved family pets must be put to sleep because they are exposed to a rabid wild animal,” said Dr. Hillary Frank, a veterinarian at North Central Animal Hospital. “Keeping pets up to date on rabies vaccinations is the best way to prevent infection and avoid such a tragic end for beloved family pets.”

Rabies is a serious viral disease that results in death for animals that are infected. The virus affects an animal’s central nervous system, causing erratic, unpredictable behavior. When wild animals are affected, the virus often causes these animals to be more aggressive towards humans and pets. Rabid mountain lions, for instance, have attacked campers and their dogs almost every year in Arizona. If the pet is not vaccinated, it is at risk for rabies.

Dr. Frank stressed that even indoor pets need to be vaccinated against rabies.

“Indoor pets can contract rabies if a rabid animal enters the house through an attic or basement,” said Dr. Frank. “Sadly, if the pet is not vaccinated against rabies, he may have to be put down or undergo a 6 month quarantine. Vaccinations are essential to ensuring pet and human safety.”

Rabies symptoms typically appear about 10 days to two months after the initial infection but this can vary. A dog or cat that has bitten a person or another pet is quarantined for 10 days, because if the virus was transferred via saliva at the time of the bite, the animal will show symptoms or die from Rabies within 10 days.

There is no cure for rabies. Consequently, vaccinating pets is essential to protecting them from contracting the disease. Once a pet begins showing rabies symptoms, no medical intervention is available to stop the disease’s progression.

Puppies and kittens are generally vaccinated against rabies by the age of three months. A second booster shot is given 12 months after the initial vaccination. Additional booster shots may be necessary every one to three years.

A kitten reacts as volunteers administer vaccinations. About 50 pets received vaccinations at the clinic, sponsored by Valley Animal Partners, with volunteer veterinarians and a grant from the Snoqualmie Tribe

— image credit: Courtesy photo

Valley Animal Partners held its third pet vaccination event on Saturday, Sept. 6. Limited income residents from the Snoqualmie Valley came to the Mount Si Senior Center to take advantage of free vaccinations for their pets. Volunteers provided rabies and distemper vaccines, and microchips to approximately 50 Snoqualmie Valley dogs and cats.

Dr. Julia Parker and vet tech Laurie Bachtel from the Snoqualmie Valley Animal Hospital in Fall City, and Dr. Karianne Allen from Annotto Bay Vet Clinic in Issaquah, and friend, Cassandra Beck, donated their time and compassion to the Valley’s pets. North Bend’s Pet Place Market donated pet food, and the Snoqualmie Tribe provided a grant for the clinic.

Valley Animal Partners is a non-profit organization, primarily raising funds to help Snoqualmie Valley seniors, veterans and families with limited income, spay and neuter their pets. Upcoming events include the annual Chili Cook-off and Dessert Auction Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Snoqualmie Valley Eagles Club in Snoqualmie, and the ever-popular Barko! (Bunko) in the spring. Learn more at www.valleyanimalpartners.com, or www.facebook.com/pages/Valley-Animal-Partners/229545850954.

Dump the excuses: No-nonsense reasons to get a pet license

People offer lots of reasons for not licensing their pets. Some of the most common reasons, and their responses:

“It’s an indoor-only pet.”

Even “indoor” pets can get out, and if they do, they are more likely to return safely home if they’re licensed.

“My cat won’t wear a collar.”

Try a different collar. There are many types and sizes, and you may want to ask for help or recommendations from an expert like your veterinarian.

“I got the license at the vet.” People often get these two things confused, but the veterinarian provides a proof of rabies vaccination, not a license. Your pet is required to have both. You can find out where to get a pet license here: http://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/regionalAnimalServices/License/Licensing_Locations.aspx.

“I don’t want to spend the money.” Licensing your pet is part of being a responsible pet owner, and it helps more than just your pet. Pet license revenue goes directly into animal services, including pet care, adoptions, returning lost pets and investigations of animal cruelty.

South Florida pet owners may be known to pamper their “fur babies” with hundred-dollar ball gowns, pet proms, doggie day care and “pupscale” pet lodges, but Fido and Felix can still get into stomach-turning mischief.

“We get a lot of crazy things,” said Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists’ veterinarian Dr. Robert Roy, recalling the yellow lab that swallowed a sewing needle and the cat that ate fishing bait — hook, line and all.

At Boynton Beach Animal Hospital, staffers recall a small Chihuahua/terrier mix that had ingested not only its owner’s area rug, but her underwear, pantyhose, tampons and artificial plants, too. The household items were safely removed during surgery.

“It was like a Hoover vacuum,” said surgical nurse Billie Gaetano,of the 15-pound dog with the bloated belly. “The owner had no idea the dog did that, until it started gagging and puking. I looked in its mouth, and I saw bits of rug, and I just kept pulling and pulling.”

Here are some of the most unusual stories shared by South Florida veterinarians. All end happily,with the adventurous animals surviving to live, and eat indigestible objects, another day.

However, they offer a cautionary tale: Fido and Felix will eat just about anything when you’re not looking. So watch out!

With this ring …

Unlike many owners unaware of what’s ailing their pet, the seasonal Palm Beach County resident who called the Boynton Beach Animal Hospital in a panic last year knew exactly what her Wheaten terrier had ingested: her 5-carat diamond ring. And she wanted it back.

Gaetano told her just how to get the dirty deed done: “Follow the dog around and wait for it to pop out” in one of the animal’s daily bowel movements.

It worked. “It came out shinier than it was when it went in,” Gaetano said, with a chuckle.

Ready to run

Don’t underestimate a dog’s ability to get what it wants.

One yellow Labrador treated at Boca North Animal Hospital in June leapt onto a kitchen counter and tore through an entire case of protein bars — boxes, bars, “wrappers and all,”veterinarian Dr. Dwyatt Bull said.

It was a pet-sitting nightmare. The sitter had ordered the case off the Internet, and by the time the owner returned from an out-of-town trip, “the feces had hit the air circulator,” Bull said.

Over the next few days, the dog released about a dozen wrappers on its own. Then it started exhibiting tell-tale signs — vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. Bull figured only surgery would relieve the blockage.

He removed at least 15 more wrappers during the operation.

“There were a ton of them,” Bull said. The dog suffered no lasting side effects.

Officials have put on hold any action on the sale of pets in Naperville pet stores, saying they want to learn more about the issue before implementing a ban that would allow the shops only to offer dogs and cats sourced from shelters and rescue groups.

These are incidents reported by the Naperville Police Department. Where charges have been filed, the report includes when and where the suspect was stopped or taken into custody and the nature of the charges.

With nothing to play for and an eye on a playoff date on the road with Wisconsin on Wednesday night, it would have been understandable for the Cougars to be look past Monday’s regular-season finale against Peoria.

Regenasure® glucosamine is the only GRAS, fully traceable vegetarian glucosamine produced exclusively in the US available for the pet food industry. The panel determined that Regenasure® glucosamine can be safely consumed by dogs, cats and horses under the conditions of its intended use.

“Regenasure® glucosamine has been a staple of the human dietary supplement and functional food markets for more than a decade,” said Mike Fleagle, Regenasure® brand manager, Cargill. “Today’s announcement assures pet food manufacturers that they can safely incorporate Regenasure® glucosamine in the products they sell to the companion animal joint health market. Numerous scientific studies have been conducted on glucosamine’s impact on joint health in companion animals.”

Because Regenasure® glucosamine is sourced and manufactured directly by Cargill, pet food manufacturers can be assured of a consistent, high-quality product. The company’s quality control program provides traceability throughout the production process, giving pet food manufacturers peace of mind that they are delivering a safe product to their customers.

Regenasure® glucosamine is produced by Cargill in Eddyville, Iowa, with all raw materials sourced in North America. It is sold as an easy-to-use dry powder ingredient, packaged in 25 kg boxes or 450 kg super sacks.

About CargillCargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and nearly 150 years of experience. We have 143,000 employees in 67 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

Cats from condemned Lebanon home available for adoption

LEBANON, Pa. — Some of the cats rescued in mid-July from a condemned home on Mt. Wilson Road in Lebanon are now available for adoption at the Humane Society of Lebanon County.

A spokesperson for the Humane Society said a total of 33 cats were taken from the home and 4 had to be euthanized due to health-related issues.

So far, 10 cats are currently available for adoption.

“All of the cats have been vaccinated, de-wormed and treated for fleas,” said Staci Papadoplos, the HSLC Humane Officer who rescued the cats.

“The shelter is currently at maximum capacity in regards to cats,” said Communications Director Suzanne Biever. “This is when we need people looking for a pet to come in and adopt, so that the shelter has available space to continue serviing our surrounding community.”

According to the Humane Society, the shelter is currently having an adoption special for the remainding for August. All cat adoptions are half price, with kittens costing $25 and adults cats costing $15.

Previously reported:

Cats rescued from elderly woman’s home in Lebanon

Reported by: Ewa Roman Contributor: Lea Jolan (LJWilson@SBGTV.com)

The Humane Society of Lebanon County has rescued 13 cats from a home where they say an elderly woman was caring for them when the cats became too much for her to handle.

Officials posted condemned signs on a South Londonderry Township home Wednesday.

“Just walking into the house you could smell the ammonia from the cat urine, you could smell, it was just old fecal matter rotting, you could smell rotting cat food,” said Staci Papadoplos, Humane Society of Lebanon County.

Officials on scene said a woman in her 70s lived there. At one time she took care of 40 cats.

Police went to her home last week, when she was taken to a hospital for shortness of breathe. That’s when they called the Humane Society of Lebanon County to investigate.

“She didn’t do this on purpose. There was no intent to harm these cats, she loved these cats and she was just incapable of taking care of them,” said Staci.

Staci says they picked up 11 cats last week. One died at the shelter. Wednesday, they picked up two more and found at least five dead at the home.

“Most of what we are seeing is just, anemia from the amount of fleas on these cats some upper respiratory symptoms from being in the conditions that they’re in,” said Staci.

Authorities say the woman is now at a care facility. As for the rescued cats, they still have to be tested and treated before they’re able to find a new home.

The Humane Society of Lebanon County has a lot of other cats or kittens you can adopt and this month and adoption fees are half price!

The Humane Society of Lebanon County is located at 150 North Ramona Road, Myerstown, PA. Animals can be visited any time during the hours of operation; Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. If you have questions call 717-628-1369.Cats from condemned Lebanon home available for adoption